LETS TALK (on) RASHOMON
I recently saw an old Japanese movie Rashomon and I've attempted to ink my thoughts about the movie here. I was astonished to see such a novel idea behind the movie that too in 1958 - the primitive age of Japanese cinema.
The one line story of the movie was that four people recount different version of the story of a man’s murder and the rape of his wife. The first appreciable thing was that the conventional practices were not followed. For instance, the unreal part of the story usually will not be enacted by the actors on screen but may be stated as a narration by any character. It was amazing that this convention was broken. Though I can’t stop myself from appreciating this but I also feel that it would have befuddled some of the viewers. The next appreciable thing was that, on hearing the storyline, whatever conjecture the viewer thinks could be possible regarding the crime, was handled in the story. Wasn't that good enough to claim this one as a masterpiece?
This story reminds me of another film – Lets Talk by Boman Irani. This film handles a family problem in different perspectives. The story line goes like this......After few years of marriage; husband loses interest in his wife and behaves indifferently to her. This makes the lonely wife to have an affair with another guy. Now the wife unveils her affair to her husband. This was the situation that's handled in 7 or 8 different ways. Each view shows different emotions and reactions of the couple based on the circumstances. I am sure that everyone will react to this situation in any one of the stated views. This movie is a standing proof that with just two characters, wonders can be made on the screen.
In short, both the movies do have a similar crux, but handled in different ways. One handles the crime from other peoples' perspective while the other makes you to spot yourself among the stated characters. I enjoyed both.........................
The one line story of the movie was that four people recount different version of the story of a man’s murder and the rape of his wife. The first appreciable thing was that the conventional practices were not followed. For instance, the unreal part of the story usually will not be enacted by the actors on screen but may be stated as a narration by any character. It was amazing that this convention was broken. Though I can’t stop myself from appreciating this but I also feel that it would have befuddled some of the viewers. The next appreciable thing was that, on hearing the storyline, whatever conjecture the viewer thinks could be possible regarding the crime, was handled in the story. Wasn't that good enough to claim this one as a masterpiece?
This story reminds me of another film – Lets Talk by Boman Irani. This film handles a family problem in different perspectives. The story line goes like this......After few years of marriage; husband loses interest in his wife and behaves indifferently to her. This makes the lonely wife to have an affair with another guy. Now the wife unveils her affair to her husband. This was the situation that's handled in 7 or 8 different ways. Each view shows different emotions and reactions of the couple based on the circumstances. I am sure that everyone will react to this situation in any one of the stated views. This movie is a standing proof that with just two characters, wonders can be made on the screen.
In short, both the movies do have a similar crux, but handled in different ways. One handles the crime from other peoples' perspective while the other makes you to spot yourself among the stated characters. I enjoyed both.........................
posted by Diwakar @ 1:02 pm
4 Comments:
Dei!! Such plots existed in Tamil cinema too long back!!! If you take Sivaji's Anda Naal, it also deals with a murder which is explained by different people with different perspectives. This also happened in 1950's. It was also first Indian film with No song. Hats off to AVM to come up with such a daring film.
Same is the case with "Virumaandi" and "aayutha Ezhuthu". A story of converging plots and perspectives.
There are many such films in Tamil and Malayalam, where the story is dealt like this.
If not for the commercial aspect, we can expect many different stories and different perspectives in Tamil cinema itself. What say?
By the way, where do you get to watch such movies!!!?
@Mohan: your mistaken..when I was talking about Rashomon, the convention I meant was different. I was not referring to narrations by many characters. Enactment will be potrayed only for the real sequence or happening. For instance..if A killed B is the actual fact, most of the movies show the actual enactment by the characters for this fact. say if there is a possibility that C killing B prevailed, this aspect will not be shown in enactment rather will be shown as some narrations...
I agree that plots like LETS TALK have been there in Tamil movies long back..but when I saw Rashomon, it reminded me of LETS TALK..thats it..
You forgot that I have the habit of watching off-beat movies. So my list of 'yet to watch off-beat movies' goes on... I forget certain movies afte some time as I couldnt get those movies. Luckily I got Rashomon recently via my friend.
i have'nt seem ANDA NAAL..so if the convention was broken in that, i stand corrected...may be I should have used 'most of the movies'....
...ha ha...
I heard about 'Lets talk' too. Should watch it sometime!
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